Sophie's Throughway (12 page)

Brendon came back to the car and got in. “Just drive,” he said, “let's get this shit appointment over.”

I pulled away from the kerb and kept quiet. We had to get to the paediatrician and I needed him to be calm. He'd tell me what all that was about when he was ready. We parked up at the back of the health centre and made our way to reception. The centre was having a refurb and we were directed to a different corridor than usual to sit and wait. The hallway was quite dim and had three wooden doors to different clinics. We sat down on the waiting chairs and I grabbed an old magazine and started going through it; trying to distract myself from the nausea inside. Brendon sat next to me looking at the pictures as I flicked through.

“She's such a slag,” he remarked, as a picture of Jordan came to view.

“She's actually very clever at what she does,” I answered, glad that he was now entering into conversation with me and finding equilibrium.

“I hate girls who look like her. She's a tart.”

I ignored the comment and carried on reading the wasteful gossip as we waited for Kathy to become available. Suddenly Brendon got to his feet, arms folded and clearly agitated. I looked up quickly, praying he wasn't about to lose it again.

“Come on,” he urged, “there's no fucking way I'm going in there.” He nodded his head back to one of the closed doors.

“What? Why? What's the matter Brendon?”

“Err… have you seen what it says on the door? This place is
freaky
man. Come on!”

I looked at the plaques on the door wondering what the hell he was on about. “What
are
you talking about?”

“The door…DUH…Have you
read
what is says,” he pointed at the door plaque, “
PHYSIO THE RAPIST
”

I leaned back in my chair and laughed out loud, letting the magazine slide from my lap. That was priceless. I'd never known anyone that could take me from absolute despair to raucous laughter in the space of a few minutes like Brendon could. “It's
physiotherapist
,” I said. “As in fizee-oh-therapist.” I was still chuckling at how he'd read it and loving the naivety of his mind despite how intelligent he was. “It's a name for a person that helps with physical therapy and movement..that sort of thing.”

“Well it's retarded and I'm not going in that room.” He remained standing, arms crossed, whilst we waited for Kathy.

The appointment went by fairly quickly, mostly due to Brendon being as difficult as possible. I didn't mind that too much because at least she got to see what he was like to deal with and would report this back to the school in a favourable way for Brendon. We went through some of his behaviour at school of late including the fact he'd upped onto governors report and so on. I wanted to mention taking weed but I'd have to do that when alone with her otherwise he would go ballistic. He wasn't responding well to being questioned this morning and had burst out with a “Why does everyone keep talking and telling? Why don't they shut the hell up and start listening?” Ah, so that's what the rage had been about. I
felt for him. I knew it was difficult but only he could find a way to manage his emotions.

We left with an ‘open appointment' as Brendon had said he didn't see the point in constantly discussing his condition with people that had never experienced it themselves.

We drove back to school in silence as I didn't want to overload him. I didn't dare say “
behave yourself
” as I think that would have just tipped him over the edge. I wished him a good day as he left the car.

I got to work at 10.15am and went straight through to see Colin. I noticed Johnno wasn't there as I passed his desk.

“Thanks Colin. Sorry about all this flexi – time,” I apologised as I removed my jacket, “what did I miss?” I sat in his leather chair as he talked me through the mornings meeting and what he wanted me to cover.

“There's an invite to World Service in a few weeks, I've put you and I down as attending…if that's alright?” He was going through his blackberry looking for the date.

“Yeah, sure..” World Service was a really exclusive restaurant so I felt honoured that Colin had asked me to go along with him.

“So – what's this phone box idea then Soph?” He looked up with a big smile.

“Oh God. I'm so sorry about that. You won't believe what happened. Brendon fed me hash brownies and I went cuckoo. Just ignore EVERYTHING I said.” I blushed a little, now I was having to explain myself.

“HA HA! That's hilarious. I like his style. How did the meeting go?”

“Well, Karl came and managed to save the day for once and basically told them they were shoddy and unprepared with a severe lack of understanding and procedure. He bought us some time and hopefully I can get him through his exams before he gets himself expelled.” I twiddled with the pen in my fingers, “Thanks Colin, you really are good to me and I
really
do appreciate it.”

“No worries babe.” He looked so sincere but then he did have those kind of blue eyes that did that.

“Where's Johnno by the way, is he out on something?”

“He's got a groin injury from a charity five a side yesterday. Says he's in agony!” Colin shook his head.

I left his office and went to my desk. I was so going to rib Johnno about that. I got my phone out to text him.

My phone rang before I could put it down saying Hillfields School. No. No way. Surely he can't have done something wrong already; in
just
two hours. I took in a deep breath and answered.

“Hi Sophie, It's Janice.”

“Please tell me he hasn't kicked off already…”

“Err no, actually he hasn't but if you can come in sometime later or tomorrow then I need to see you.”

“Oh? Well I'll have to check with my boss. It's
probably going to have to be tomorrow first thing, if I can. What's the problem?”

“Mr. Fothergill had to change all his arrangements this morning. The school had an impromptu visit from Victor Churchman in respect of something that Brendon has done.”

“What?” Oh. My. God. Victor Churchman, the Labour MP has visited the school because of Brendon. The enormity of it ran through my mind.

What the hell had he done now?

I sat at my desk looking at my phone and wondering whether or not to ring Karl. Should I tell him that MP's were now coming into school because of our son or should I wait to see what it was all about first? Probably better. He'd only irritate me and I wanted a bit more time to lapse between us from after the brownie incident. I couldn't possibly go to school this afternoon because I'd already rolled in late but being late again tomorrow was just royally taking the piss. I put my phone down and went to Colin's office. He was on the phone but beckoned me in to take a seat until he'd finished.

“Colin, I need to take a few days holiday,” I said quickly.

“Oh? Late deal or something?”

“I wish! When do I ever go on holiday, Colin?” I laughed. However it wasn't funny. I could die for a break somewhere in Europe. The sun glistening on the blue
Mediterranean; flip flops and floaty frocks; long glasses of sangria and lazing by the pool. I couldn't afford such luxuries and I wouldn't leave Brendon with anyone else and he would not go on holiday unless it involved sport and snow. My time off was usually spent decorating, gardening and catching up with the ironing.

“I need to go into school again. Apparently Victor Churchman has been in regarding Brendon.”

“Victor Churchman? What the hell for?” Colin looked quite surprised.

“I've no idea. They will only tell me when I get there. It's Mr. Fothergill's way of asserting control, like I'm one of his pupils or something. I was thinking about going tomorrow which is why I need to take a few days. I'll still work at home but I'd rather take it as holiday.”

“Just go, it's not a problem.”

“No Colin. It is a problem. It's very good of you to be so accommodating but it's not fair to everyone else. It makes me feel bad and like I'm getting preferential treatment. That's going to cause resentment sooner or later.”

“Everyone knows how hard you work Soph,” he sat with his chin resting on his hand looking at me as though trying to figure me out, “it's only a phase and you get your work done, so I don't mind.” He gave a hopeful smile.

“But Aspergers
isn't
a phase. I need to get him sorted out Colin and I'd rather take it as holiday but still work in-between to make up for my time off.
Please
?”, I begged.

“How long?”

“Maybe three days, starting tomorrow?”

“OK – It's yours.”

“You're the best Ed in the world.” I grinned at him as I stood up to leave. He sat back in his chair smiling as he watched me leave.

I got my head down for the rest of the day which was a lot easier without Johnno there until I received a text back from him.

I actually
was
missing Johnno but I'd never tell him that. It was nice to have a bit of banter whilst you worked and he was so easy to reel in.

The day passed quickly and I managed to get a ton of articles sorted which made me feel like I'd made up for my poor attendance. I arrived home about 6.30pm to find Bryony, Brendon and ‘new girlfriend' at the Starship Enterprise watching YouTube videos. I'd wanted to talk to him about the ‘MP' coming in and get the heads up on
what he'd done. However, when I'd rang Janice Armitage earlier to make an appointment she'd asked me not to so we could all go through it together. I hated being on the back foot.

Brendon came through to the kitchen with his new chick. “This is Jessie, Mother,” he announced as he put his arm round her neck.

“Hi Jessie,” I enthused, “lovely to meet you and I
love
that scarf you're wearing.” I picked up the delicate turquoise material around her neck that was imprinted with multicoloured butterflies.

“Oh, you too! And thank you,” she smiled, “it's from Top Shop.”

I loved her instantly: Well spoken, friendly and pretty to boot.

Brendon remained on his best behaviour all night and even sat at the table for dinner because Jessie made him. Who'd have thought that all we'd ever needed was a nice girl to sort him out.

 

Chapter 15

The following morning I let Brendon and Bryony walk to school together whilst I did a bit of work from home. My appointment with school wasn't until 10.am and they wanted to see me on my own first. I hadn't said a word to Brendon about coming in, just like they had asked.

I arrived at reception and Janice was already downstairs waiting to meet me. We went up to her office and sat down.

“Right,” she said, as she removed a piece of paper from a file, “this is what's happened. Apparently Brendon is unhappy with the way the IT department is being run and so a few weeks back, he took it upon himself to write an email to Victor Churchman. Quite frankly,
I think
it's a very well written letter for his age but it is Brendon we are talking about! Mr. Fothergill is slightly upset as we had an impromptu visit from Victor who is now looking into the school system.” She handed over the printed e mail for me to read: